Two of the three psalms we’re going to go through this morning were written by David. Psalm 101 sets forth the principals wherewith David will run his administration and the city of Jerusalem. Psalm 102 is a cry from someone captured and taken to Babylon, asking the Lord to restore what has been destroyed by their unfaithfulness to Yahweh.. And Psalm 103, again written by David, is a wonderful declaration of God’s love and forgiveness to us who are weak.
Being in charge isn’t easy. It’s especially hard to be the boss and still reflect the character of God. We’ve all worked for bad bosses. I’ve worked for bad bosses who were Christians. So how do you do it? The pressures are enormous. Even if you don’t employ or supervise people, you still have influence or authority over others. We can learn with how David determined to lead as the king of Israel.
1 – 4
David first outlines what are the two main elements of his leadership: faithful love and justice. It is sometimes hard both to do what is loving and what is right and fair. But this is the character of God. David says he has determined to lead with “integrity” which means “soundness or completeness.” It means you are the same on the inside in what motivates you and the thoughts you think, to the words and actions that take place on the outside. It’s a tall order but ought to be the goal of every one of us.
In verse three David is saying that he won’t engage in activities that draw him away from the character of God (“worthless” = Belial, evil, without profit). Furthermore he “hates” (“enemy”) purposeful transgression against the character of God. He won’t let it stand nor affect him. He will be Teflon when it comes to things that not like God: loving and just.
David also will have nothing to do with those that say one thing but mean another. He simply will not be involved with evil.
Jesus said: Matt. 10:16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as harmless as doves.” Innocent there means “unmixed.” We are “in” the world but we are not “of” the world. You can lead in the world without using the world’s methods.
So he goes on to say “if you are going to be unlike the Lord, get ready to look for a new job.”
5 – 8
Slander is talking someone else down. Arrogance is talking yourself up. Neither one has a place in the kingdom of God.
Instead, David wants to include those that are faithful to God in his administration. But those who act “deceitfully” (verse 7 “treachery”) or is ruled by lies, can work in David’s kingdom.
I don’t know if you’ve ever read this verse, but in the eyes of the Lord, lying is just as bad as any other sin:
Rev. 21:8 “But the cowards, unbelievers, vile, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars—their share will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
Paul tells us to “speak the truth in love.” (Ephesians 4:15).
Finally David promises to dismiss from his administration, and even from Jerusalem, anyone who has set themselves against the character of God.
How do we put this into practical life? We can’t do a litmus test of everyone who works for us and all those who aren’t born-again get shown the door. No. That simply won’t work.
I think, though, that we can learn from David here.
Let God’s character form the backbone of your standards.
By that I don’t mean everyone carries a Bible and sings worship songs all day. But it is quite possible (and I have tried to put this into practice) to model and even enshrine the characteristics of the Lord into the work we do in the world. Because in the end, no one can argue against the character of God.
Start with Faithful love and justice
Faithful love means you are willing to lay down your lives to serve others; that you stick with them, care for them, love them, even through their mistakes. Justice means you do what’s fair for everyone, even if it’s tough love. If someone needs to be fired, you fire them. If they need to change some behavior then you have a hard talk with them. If they are hurting others, you stop it.
But in all this, we pray, as David does, that we will be motivated, think, speak, and act like God would if He were our boss. Because He is!
Psalm 102
Psalm 102 was written by someone in Babylon who desperately wants to see Israel restored. In a way, it could be the prayer of someone who has made some really bad decisions and desires the Lord to restore them.
1 – 11
The psalmist is suffering physically. He feels time is passing by like smoke. He can’t eat. His bones feel like they are on fire and his heart weak. He’s become emaciated. Relationally he feels very alone and like others are constantly taunting him and cursing him. Spiritually he feels like God has thrown him aside and no longer cares. But as desperate as he feels, and as feeble, he acknowledges that God is something to be counted on:
12 – 14
God’s in control, he says, and always will be. The time has come to restore what the enemy has destroyed. This was the promise to Israel while in Babylon, delivered to them by Jeremiah the prophet.
Jer. 29:10 For this is what the LORD says: “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place.
11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
12 You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.
14 I will be found by you”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the LORD’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.”
So what was supposed to happen when God returned Israel to its land?
15 – 22
So God will “hear a prisoner’s groaning” (vs 20), have pity on his people, rebuild Jerusalem, and then be present in it. All so that the people will declare “the name of Yahweh” and that “nations will fear” that name.
Then the psalmist ends the psalm with a personal plea.
23 – 28
He’s worried that God will not let him live to see this day. He cries out to God, who is immortal, to not let him die before he sees this restoration.
One of the things that strikes me about this psalm is the simple comparison between us and God. Especially when we are young, we feel invincible and immortal—bullet-proof. As we grow older we realize, and see others die suddenly or tragically, we realize just how much a vapor this life really is. Yet God has life that cannot ever be taken away and He offers that life free of charge through loyalty to His Son Jesus. When we feel mortal, let’s remember that promise:
John 3:36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life
1Cor. 15:53 For this corruptible must be clothed
with incorruptibility,
and this mortal must be clothed
with immortality.
54 When this corruptible is clothed
with incorruptibility,
and this mortal is clothed
with immortality,
then the saying that is written will take place:
Death has been swallowed up in victory.
Psalm 103
So how do you get that eternal life? Yes, it is by believing, but it is also by having your sins completely wiped away so you can be in the presence of God. That happens when God actually forgives your sins. This psalm starts and ends with the same phrase: “My soul, praise Yahweh”. And that pretty much sums up this incredibly beautiful song. It is a psalm that details the many wonderful attributes of the character of God. If I were to sum it up, I would use the Apostle John’s words from 1 John 4:8: “God is love.”
1 – 2
The New King James renders this: “Bless the Lord, Oh my soul”. It has been made into a modern worship chorus. David desires not just some of him, but all of him, to praise Yahweh. Have you ever found yourself just letting go—letting it all out? It might be the feeling you get if you found out you won the lottery, or were going to be a father, or you got the job of your dreams. That feeling is just a little of what David desires as he praises his God.
It reminds me of:
Deut. 6:5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.
All that is in within you includes: your mind, your will, your desires, and your focus.
And why does David want this? He wants to remind himself of all the character of God and how God has benefited him. What a wonderful thing for us to meditate on as well! We tend to forget all of the things God has done for us. Let’s let David remind us!
3 – 5
What are we thankful for? Good weather, lots of money, when our sports team wins?
Look at all David has to be thankful for: forgiveness, healing, deliverance from death, experiencing compassion and love, satisfaction, and renewed life. These are things to be truly thankful for.
We certainly don’t deserve these things, yet God gives them to us and much more, though we continue to blow it.
6 – 10
When we are weak, God is strong for us.
When we are ignorant of who God is, He describes His character, which is “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in faithful love.” More wonderful words could never be spoken. This is God. Pure, yes, dangerous to anything that is not life God, yes, but He desires to love, not to punish.
God could have wiped us off the face of the earth long ago. But instead He wants everyone to live:
Ezek. 18:23 Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked?” This is the declaration of the Lord GOD. “Instead, don’t I take pleasure when he turns from his ways and lives?”
1Tim. 2:4 (God) who wants everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Though David did not see the ultimate fulfillment of what he wrote, we do, in Jesus Christ:
11 – 19
God could not love you more. When God forgives it is as if the sin never existed. When you feel weak, frail, insignificant and transient, God establishes you forever.
20 – 22
In light of God’s character and salvation—everyone everywhere: angels, God’s armies, those who serve Him, and everyone for which God has been faithful—should praise with “all that is within” them.
Is your life characterized by thankfulness to God?
What is the percentage of time you meditate on the goodness of God as compared to focusing on what’s wrong with you or your life?
Have you really considered how great a salvation He has brought you?
How far is east from west?
The Lord loves us, forgives us has cleansed us, and welcomes us into His family. He has given us eternal life and has placed His character in us to shine that love out to the world.
